Combined mixing and flow device



Dec. 16, 1930. L. E. BUNCH 1,785,679

COMBINED MIXING AND FLOW DEVICE Filed June 13, .1930

Lazdz'ls'EBzz 720/2 INVENTOR BY 4/ 5" W532 ya M 7? j Patented Dec. 16 1930 PATENT OFFICE LEWIS E." Burton, on mmrmrnxas COMBINED MIXING am) now :oEvIcn Application filed June 13,

' This invention relates to well apparatus and has for an object the provision of-a combined mixing device and flow valve, which a may be positioned within a well to breakup and agitate the liquid and impart a swirling motion thereto, to reduce slippage to a minimum and assist the flow of liquid through the flow pipe or tube, the invention being especially adapted for use in oil wells.

Another object of the invention is the pro- 'j vision of a device which includes a mixing it comes in contact with the air to provide a a more perfect mixture.

Another obj eat of the invention is the provision ofan agitator which will also function to force the liquid upward, which, together with the action of the air, imparts a swirling motion to the liquid and reduces slippage to a minimum.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction,

to be'hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a sectional view of a portion of a well with the invention applied.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail elevation of the mixing chamber, agitator, and operating means thereof.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4. 4 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the reference character 10 indicates a portion of a well casing within which is positioned a hollow member 11., This member is positioned adjacent the bottom of the well and is circumferentially grooved as shown at,12 for the reception of an annular packing 13. This packing tightly engages the well casing and effectually shuts 1930. Serial :6. 461,023.

off the bottom of the well. The member 11 is made *in two-sections threadedly connected as shown at 14 so as to facilitate assembling. Extending into opposite ends of the mem ber 11 are passages 15, the outer ends of these passages being in communication with sections of the flow pipe or tube 16, the latter beingthreadedly connected to the member 10 as shown at 17. A short pipe section or casing 18 connects the passages 15, so that a passage is provided between the flow tube sections through said member.

Asstatech'the member 11 is hollow and as the pipe section 18 extends through this hollow portion,-an annular air chamber 19 is provided. Openings for passages. 20 extend through the upper portion of the member 11 'into the chamber 19.

Air is forced into the well under pressure andenters the chamber19 through the passages 20, and from this chamber, the'air is directed into a chamber 21 provided within the pipe section 18 and the adjacent passage 15, the chamber 21 providing a mixing chamber. The air entering the mixing chamber is given a swirling action through the me dium of air nozzles 22, whose outer ends communicate with the chamber 19 and whose inner ends are relatively offset as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. Mounted in suitable bearings provided in the mixing chamber is a vertically disposed shaft 23. This shaft carries at its lower end an agitator 24 which is shown in the form of a propeller. The upper end of the shaft 23 is geared to a shaft 25, through the medium of gears 26, and this last mentioned shaft extends through the pipe 18 and hasmounted upon its outer ends propellers 27.

Air entering the chamber 19 will be forced into the chamber 21 as previously stated, and

as the propellers 27 are located in the cham ber 19 in the path of the air, the propellers will operate to rotate the shaft 25. The shaft 23 will then be rotated through the medium of the gears'26 so as to operate the agitator 24. The oil or the liquid passing through the flow tube 16 will be thoroughly broken up before it reaches the air expelled from the nozzles 22, so that this liquid and the air will be more thoroughly mixed. The mixture of V 7 liquid and air will pass up through the flow tube with a swirling actionand slippage will thus be reduced to a minimum;

The invention is, susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right. is here in reserved to make such changes as properly 'fall within the scope of the appended claims. V i v t i l r Wh t. i 1 i' Having described the 1. In a mixing device valvefor wells,.a flow tube, a hollow'memberadapted to be connected in the flow tube, a pipe sec;

tion located within said member and spaced from the walls thereof to provide a mixing chamber having communication with the flow tube and-an air chamber'surrounding the mixing chamber, said air chamber hav-, ingvai'r inlet openings at itsupper end for the passage of air under pressure, a rotatable member'flocated within the mixing chamber in the path of liquid passing-through the fiow tube, means having communication with the air chamber to direct air therefrom intothe mixing chamber for mixture with the-liquid to impart a swirling action thereto, and means located within therair chamber in the path of the air to operate the rotatablemem- I a,

2. In a mixing device and flow valve for wells, a-flow tube, a hollow member adapted to be connected in the flow tube, apipe; section located within said member and spaced from the wallsthereof'to provide a mixing chamber having communication with the flow tube andfan air chamber 'su'rrounding themixing chamber, said airchamber having air inletopenings at itsupper'end for the a passage of air under pressure, a rotatable member located within the mixingchamber in the path of liquid passing through the flow tube, means'having communication with the air chamber to direct airtherefro'm into the mixing chamber for mixture'with the liquid to impart aIswirlingaction thereto, air driven propellers located within the air chamber in the path of air passing "therethrough, and means operativ'ely' connecting the propellers and ate the latten, H

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

' LEWIS l rotatablememberto operj- I 

